The Tokyo Olympics will begin on July 23 next year, organisers said on Monday, after the coronavirus forced the historic decision to postpone the Games until 2021.

President of the the Tokyo organising committee, Yoshiro Mori told reporters at a hastily arranged news conference

“The Olympics will be held from July 23 to Aug 8, 2021. The Paralympics will be held from Aug 24 to September 5,”

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics were due to open on July 24 this year and run for 16 days, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the first peace-time postponement of the Games.

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